Joseph E Hammer

US Patent:

7040959, May 9, 2006

Filed:

Jan 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/039225

Inventors:

Brian R. Panuska - Phoenix AZ, US
Joseph Hammer - Lexington MN, US
Ronald Hammer - Forest Lake MN, US
Wesley Bachman - Phoenix AZ, US

Assignee:

Illumina, Inc. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

B24B 1/00

US Classification:

451 36, 451 39, 451 40, 451 5, 451102, 83 53, 83177, 239310, 239318, 239DIG 8

Abstract:

An abrasive jet apparatus is provided which includes an abrasive dispenser defining a compartment for storing a granular abrasive material and at least one metering orifice disposed in open communication therewith for dispensing the granular abrasive material. The apparatus also includes a shutter assembly disposed adjacent the metering orifice, which includes a shutter member angularly displaceable between first and second positions relative to the metering orifice. The shutter member has formed therethrough at least one shutter opening which in the first position is substantially fully aligned with the metering orifice, and in the second position is substantially fully offset therefrom. The apparatus further includes a position actuator operatively coupled to the shutter mechanism for reversibly displacing the shutter member to the first and second positions and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween for occluding a selective portion of the metering orifice. A flow rate of the abrasive material dispensed through said metering orifice is thereby maintained at a predetermined level.

US Patent:

20100210186, Aug 19, 2010

Filed:

Feb 18, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/388355

Inventors:

Brian R. Panuska - Phoenix AZ, US
Joseph C. Hammer - Lexington MN, US
Stewart Cramer - Scottsdale AZ, US

Assignee:

LAI International, Inc. - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

B24C 3/00
B24C 5/04

US Classification:

451 38, 83177, 451102, 451 40

Abstract:

Embodiments of the invention provide multi-head fluid jet cutting systems and methods of utilizing such devices. A multi-head fluid jet cutting system includes a body having a plurality of fluid jet cutting heads installed therein. Each cutting head receives pressurized fluid from an intensifier and directs the fluid along a jet axis out of a nozzle of the head to form a cutting stream. In some embodiments, an abrasive material can be mixed with the fluid to form an abrasive fluid cutting stream. The body can be mounted to a motion system which moves the body, and therefore the cutting heads, relative to a work piece mounted upon a work bed. Each of the fluid jet cutting heads is coupled to an actuator which can control an on/off state of the cutting head. In some embodiments, an actuator mounting plate is provided to enable mounting of the actuators off of the jet axes.

US Patent:

20120276818, Nov 1, 2012

Filed:

Apr 30, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/460289

Inventors:

Stewart Cramer - Phoenix AZ, US
Joshua J. Klein - Meire Grove MN, US
Joseph C. Hammer - Lexington MN, US

Assignee:

LAI INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Fridley MN

International Classification:

B24C 1/00
B24C 5/04

US Classification:

451 38, 451102

Abstract:

Some embodiments can be implemented as a system, method, or nozzle and can include some of these features. A fluid jet cutting system can include a frame, a cutting head, a high-pressure fluid source, an abrasive source, and an actuator. The cutting head can include a fluid inlet, an orifice, a mixing chamber, and a fluid jet nozzle. The fluid jet nozzle can include an elongated body which can include a body axis, a fluid inlet orifice that can be in fluid communication with a plurality of conduits, and a source of high speed fluid and abrasive, which can be the cutting head's mixing chamber. Each of the plurality of conduits can: be in fluid communication with the fluid inlet orifice; have its own conduit axis that forms an angle with the body axis; and be in fluid communication with its own fluid outlet orifice.